Relief-valve.



H. J. RUMPP.

RELIEF VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1912.

1 1 2 549 Patented July 7, 1914.

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naanrrroar, Mar ens. s nner or I entrants are t a 3 th seas sier a I dohereby declare the following to he a is full, clear, and-exactdescription of the invention, such as. will enable others skilled. in

the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference 'beinhad to thenccompanying drawings, anto letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this'specification.

My invention relates to improvements in relief valves for hot waterheating. systems, and more particularl "to that class of hot watersystems wherein the water is maintained under a pressure addition to itsnatural hydrostatic head.

The device embodying; my invention therefore employs a mercury seal forthe movable member, as customary.v Y

The device is simple, ecient, and reliable in operation'under allconditions'of service Heretofore it has been necessaryin similar devicestoconnect the pressureregs,

later in the line below the expansion tank of thehot water system. Thisisoften impracticable and my device may be attached to the side of theexpansion tanlaoron top thereof, so that an eixistinghot water systemnot under auxiliary pressure'may be readily converted into a systemusing euniliary pressure without disturbing the installation, and, byvirtue of being' able to connect the overflow to the side or ,top of theexpansion tank as well rain-th sestomary position, there will alwaysrbesam cient space to accommodate the overflowde vice.

In the drawing, which shows the water pipe leading to the overflow,which has a threaded connection in the-cast iron or other metal bottom20f the over flow device. Secured to the body 2 by a threaded connectionis the body of the cas-v ing comprising the tubular portion? having atits upper end an inclined walld forming the bottom of an enlargedchamber 5. The portions 2, 3, 4: and 5 may be cast in one piece, ifdesired. The chamber 5 is clnseol by a screw-cap 6, and provided with athreaded nipple 7.

Within the casing 3 is the water inlet pipe 10" for the casing, having ascrew oo nnecq tionwith-the bottom 2 and torming-a con: tinliationlcfthe inlet pipe 1.. Thispipe erthe tubular portion 3 015- the-casing.

ing and with the pipeflt) is a bell 11 having a head 12.0f slight ylarger diameter than ghasxa downwardly projecting flange 16 fthreaded onthe outside and beveled at 17 on the inside, and. forms a cap for thereoeption of a vulcanizedfiher, rubber, or

other packing dish 18. r "1 The bell has its lowerportion immersed weghts, as'20, provided with a central hole,

' As illustrated, theovertlow is intended for connection to the sideof'the expansion tank. .An'inc-rease of pressure-in the system drivesthe water. against the. air trapped in the tank, causing it to rise andpass through pipes 53 and 10..v l'fthe pressure is sufiicient to thehell-ll, it will rise until'its lower fed'gefleaves the mercury1.9,when, under or- "quietly pass down between 10 and 11 and beof thehell ll, rising between 11 and 3'to the overflow pipe 9. Should thepressure of the water he suddenly increased, some of the-mercury is aptto follow the water for the first few seconds into 5, and in so doingmeets the deflecting surface 13 and is thrown back onto the conical wallt, and is prevented from being splashed out through the overflow 9.After the initial rush of water throu' "h the device the mercuryimmediately falls fietween 3 and 11 to the bottom of 3.

Should the expansion in the heating system lPatented dirty ft, this.

tends slightly above .the shoulder vformedetween the conical or inclned-walls and v other tool for removing the cap. The cap so that theymay be placed over the stem 15.

Concentric withth'e portion 3 of the seev theporti'on 3 of the casing,.==lhe lower face v Jinn t't t stl Edited. may be leaded t v any. siredextent by; means of removable.

dinary circumstances, it wilhunder the .sustainted pneumatlc pressure inthe tank,

I tween the mercurysealand the lower edge the over-v flow device invertical section, 1. represents be so great that water will pass overfrom the expansion tank to the overflow device, the lift of the bell 11will, so to speak, increase the volume of pipe 10 before the seal at 19is broken so that a certain amount of water will rcturn to the expansiontank and syste'm upon decrease of the expansion. On the other .hand, ifno water passes to the overflow device" from the expansion tank, butonly compressed air, a certain amount of air will be returned to theexpansion tank, and an equivalent volume of water will be returned fromsaid tank to the system when contraction sets in. The valve 14 beingweiglited, the volume of mercury in the seal will be increased inproportion to the increase of weight used, and when this valve is liftedby the expansion. the mercuryseal prevents a sudden rush of the water orair, the mercury giving way, or stringing up between 11 and 3 only aftera certain (3X- tent of lift of the valve. The mercury also insures anefl'ective seal should there be a small leakage between the packing 18and the end of pipe 10. v 1

I claim 1. A relief valve comprising a casin having a body portion andan upper en arged chamber connected thereto by an inclined wall, a waterinlet pipe extending concentrically through the body portion andterminating slightly above the lower edge of said inclined wall, a bellnormally resting on said inlet pipe and terminating near the bottom ofthe casing and forming, with the casing and inlet pipe, concentricannular chambers which connect the pipe with the upper enlarged chamber,a mercury seal in the bottom of the casing normally closingcommunication between said annular chambers, said bell having a headextending over the lower portion of the inclined wall and cooperatingwith the latter to return-men cury forced from the casing back to thelatter.

2. A relief valve comprising a casing having a body portion and an upperenlarged chamber connected thereto by an inclined wall, a water inletpipe extending concentrically through thebody pgr tig n andater oniinating slightly above the lower edge of said inclined wall, a bellnormally resting on said inlet pipe and terminating near the bottom ofthe casingand forming, with the casing and inlet pipe, concentricannular chambers which connect the pipe with the upper enlarged chamber,a mercury seal in the bottom of the casing normally closingcommunication between said annular chambers, said bell being providedwith a head overhanging the lower portion of the inclined wall, theunderface of the head being inclined downwardly and outwardly from thebell for the urpose specified.

In testimony t at I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name in presence of two subscriblng witnesses.

HARRY J. RUMPF.

